January 1, 1895 to January 1, 1900

From the inception of the Populist party, going back to antecedent parties such as the Readjusters and Greenbackers, as well as the previous attempts in the 1880s to fuse the Farmers' Alliances and the Colored Farmers National Alliance, an attempt was made to attract the Negro to the fold using an approach devoid of what C. Vann Woodward calls sentimental liberalism' and romantic...

Through the merger of the National Federation of Afro-American Women (headed by the dean of women at the Tuskegee Institute) and the National League of Colored Women, the formation of the National Association of Colored Women began which would culminate in its formation. Comprised of state and local affiliates, it addressed many social issues facing African American communities. Founded by abolitionist...

The depression of the 1890s was only exacerbated by the weather conditions in the spring of 1896. The drought of 1896 brought a huge setback to the agricultural sectors of many southern states, particularly Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The lack of water caused crucial crops to wither, and brought the economy further into its depression. In Mississippi, the state also faced downpours...

The occurrence of mass mob lynching or by individuals escalated during the decade of the 1890s. The severe racism of Georgia swept away the Bourbon notion of race relations and revolutionized popular attitudes towards blacks.' The violence against African-Americans was at an unprecedented level. The gubernatorial race and the ensuing debates brought the issue of race relations to the forefront...

Under the heading Not a Negro' the Birmingham's Age-Herald reported that Augusta, Georgia would not have a colored postmaster'. Judson Lyons, the African American under consideration, will not be postmaster of Augusta' said Secretary Gary of Georgia. He gave his reasons, saying that a colored man would be elected postmaster and this was a social and political...

Founded by one of the most prominent educators in the country, Mr. Richard A. Wright, Ware High School was the first high school for African-Americans in all of Georgia. A secondary school for African-Americans, it was seen as symbol of interracial cooperation for many in the community. In 1897 Ware High School was thriving, nearly doubling its number of students and even added an assistant teacher...

On the 12th of July, the operators of 17 mines in Fairmount Country (W.Va.), constituting the Fairmount oil region, gave their miners an advance of 0.05. This increase brings the prices to 40 cents a ton on running coal in effect on July 14th and is 0.13 on the ton more than the Pennsylvania and Ohio men are striking for. This was a very significant move considering the massive strike occurring...

On the 21st of July, two Pine Ridge, Arkansas counties, Lawrence and Randolph, came under city bans, prohibiting any meetings or general activity of the racist/white supremacy organization to occur within the city. The ban was set in place because, as one important city official reported, hardly a day goes by but some new outrage is committed.' <br />Reportedly, both men and women,...

On the 22nd of July, 1897, the first successful run of steel was accomplished in Birmingham, Alabama. Excitement grew throughout the entire state as it seemed that the good old Iron Age was finally passing them by and the Age of Steel was upon them. In their eyes, it was a true advance guard of prosperity.<br />The paper described this excitement and the bright implications of producing...

During the 1896 campaign effort of William McKinley, Northern manufacturing interests were active donors to his party's presidential aspirations. When McKinley summoned a special congress in 1897, their donations were rewarded with a new tariff. <br />Headed by Nelson Dingley, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman from Maine, the Dingley Tariff was shaped around the desires of...